There’s a big payoff for blogging day in, day out, for more than five years: You see a lot of stuff. My archives are just brimming with all kinds of rare features found in midcentury American homes. I was thinking, “Golly, I’ve seen quite a few very interesting vintage kitchen sinks,” so I decided to go through my archives and see what I could find. And find, I did. Here are thirteen vintage kitchen sinks — some are super rare, as in one siting in five years… others are a bit more common (although still rare in the grand scheme of things)… all are delightful. First up:
- Youngstown Servi-Center — Very very rare, I think. We have only ever seen one.
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Elkay Stainless Steel Console — Also just one spotting in the wild.
- And here’s another Elkay design — the Elkay Consolette — discovered by reader Karen in Oct. 2014.
- Tappan Ultraflo kitchen sink: Woot!!! zzzzzzzappppppp. NOT! I have never seen this sink still extant, in the wild.
- American Standard “Midway” sink — Porcelain drainboard sink — built like a kitchen island. Circa 1954 image. We have never seen one of these in the wild — only in this advertisement.
- Added Dec. 3: I just spotted this in an old story — a vintage Elkay (I’m guessing) similar to the American Standard Midway — but in stainless steel. Originally spotted in the Corbett House.
- Update Jan. 16, 2013 — Kate spotted this big stainless steel sink — similar to the Corbett House sink, but also featuring two drainboards — at her local ReStore. Wow. I’m guessing: used commercially
- Updated March 24, 2013 — Another variation on the vintage Elkay, this one spotted on craigslist. I’m calling this rare(ish) because you cannot get this kind of deep bowl/shallow bowl combo today. Listing said: Mid Century (1955) 84 inch stainless steel kitchen counter with 2 integrated sinks. Vintage Elkay Lustertone (top of the line back then, and today), excellent condition, no gauges or scratches, just normal fine wear in the stainless steel. Counters angle towards sinks on both sides. One sink is 14″W x16″L x 8″ D with opening for garbage disposal. Second sink is 22W x 16L x 4 D (the lady of the house had a stool under the sink). Entire piece is 84″ x 25″. Called Elkay — today, a new 80″ Lustertone counter with 2 sinks would retail for $2,800. Perfect for a modern or mid-century modern renovation. $450 or best offer.
- Kitchen drainboard sink with integrated top-loading dishwasher — These units from Youngstown (and maybe other makers) were not super-rare. But still coolio to the max.
- GE Wonder Kitchen — Super fabulous: GE made the Wonder Kitchen — these wereThese were marketed as one-piece, space-saving, space-age kitchen units. The cabinet modules were united by a long single piece of stainless steel counter top, which also had a sink and electric range engineered right into into it. Above: Read more: Chris buys a Wonder Kitchen on craigslist, restores it, and installs it in his Mies van der Rohe apartment kitchen. We also have seen “Hotpoint Wonderline” kitchens — same exact idea; at some point GE owned Hotpoint, so these may be the same kitchens, just rebranded.
- American Brand drainboard sink — Not so easy to see in this particular photo, but the faucet is designed to fit into a specifically designed niche. You can still get the replacement faucet for this sink today. I get the original reader question on this… I point them to the resource… and they are amazed. I am amazed.
- American Standard Fiesta Sink — Came in a variety of colors and bowl configurations.
- Another stunning American Standard kitchen sink with a unique shape, round bowls and a mysterious original faucet.
- Ebco kitchen sink with two bowl shapes — I have only ever seen one vintage kitchen sink like this, combining one square bowl and one round bowl. Sold for $150 at Historic House Parts.
Would you like to see a bunch more “typical” vintage kitchen sinks? How about these 15 vintage sinks from Kohler:
Elizabeth says
I just purchased a home with a great 2 bowl 48 inch cast iron sink with a sliding drain board. I haven’t been able to find anything like it online. Would love to send a picture to see if someone can tell me more about it.
Sandra says
I have a Youngstown Kitchen sink almost exactly like the Youngstown Servi-Center on your blog, except the top of mine is ceramic with a middle bowl and drain boards on each side. Faucet is at back of sink in the middle above the bowl. The sink strainer on it just broke – probably was the original one – and I can’t find one anywhere like it. The strainer has four pieces at the bottom instead of the more common one for today’s sinks. And it fits down inside the drain instead of flush like the modern ones. Don’t know what I will do – can’t afford to replace the whole sink and don’t really want to. Oh the woes of owing an older home!
Lisa McWilliams says
Hi I am just seeing your post and loved it. We bought our 1955 home 3 years ago and my husband (a builder) remodeled the kitchen for me around our vintage Elkay sink like one you that have pictured 🙂
I love it , I enjoyed seeing one like it on your blog! ( the one with a shallow sink and on deep sink)
Lori says
I have an antique Homart kitchen sink dated 2/4/54 double baseboard single basin in the middle looking for a value. Any ideas on how to price these antique sinks?
Julie says
I have a porcelain sink/cabinet combo unit with the drain board counter on both sides of the sink. I have a love hate relationship with it.
Bill Richard says
I just removed my Elkay Consolett from daily use about a month ago
Allie says
I have an old GE sink/dishwasher in our kitchen. It resembles the items in the GE Wonder Kitchen photos. I’d like to find out how to find a replacement faucet for it! Any ideas?
pam kueber says
I don’t know the answer to this one, Allie.
scibirg says
I have seen a setup that looked like the servi-center but without the ultra cool backsplash, just a regular enamel sink. It has the indented doors underneath. I believe it’s still for sale near me.
Nancy says
Browsing the Detroit Metro Craigslist today I came across two vintage metal kitchens that I thought that folks on here would like to see. Here are the links:
First, a Geneva porcelain top and metal cabinetry:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/hsh/4637927709.html
Second, and entire kitchen of metal cabinets in northern Michigan that may be woodgrain or may have been covered in woodgrain later:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/mat/4653763618.html
This ad has a couple of vintage kitchen cabs in rough condition:
http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/hsh/4572694497.html
Mike H. says
Apologies for any infringement.